Assistive Hearing Technology for Ventura, CA
For those with hearing loss, hearing aids provide the best solution to not only hear better, but also continue to enjoy an active and independent lifestyle. However, there are situations and circumstances when hearing aids don’t provide enough help or the right kind of help.
People who aren’t quite ready for hearing aids for whatever reason can enjoy the assistance provided by assistive listening devices, while those who use hearing aids can benefit from the extra help they provide.
In addition to fitting you with hearing aids and providing ongoing support, Nelson Audiology, Inc. also makes assistive hearing technology available to help fill in some of the gaps in your ability to communicate in public and private settings, whether you wear hearing aids or not.
There are two types of assistive hearing technology: assistive listening devices (ALDs), which provide a personal connection to audio sources, and assistive listening systems (ALSs) that help individuals with hearing challenges in public places like theaters and lecture halls.
ALD Hearing Devices
Assistive listening devices (ALDs) help amplify sounds, allowing you to hear more clearly in difficult listening environments or when using certain devices, like your TV or telephone.
The purpose of an ALD is to improve what hearing specialists call the “speech to noise ratio,” but they also help separate the sounds you actually want to hear from background noise in order to help improve the listening experience for the hearing aid user.
Common ALDs include:
Personal Listening Systems
A PLS carries sound from the speaker (or other source) directly to the listener, minimizing or eliminating environmental noises. Some of these systems, like auditory trainers, are designed for classroom or small group use, while personal frequency modulated (FM) systems and personal amplifiers are used for one-on-one conversations in automobiles, meeting rooms, restaurants, etc.
TV Listening Systems
These help improve sound from your TV, radio, or stereo by eliminating interference from surrounding noise, and they remove the need to use excessively high volume. They can be used with or without hearing aids, allowing your family to set the volume of the TV at a comfortable listening level, while you adjust the volume of your device to meet your needs.
Direct Audio Input Hearing Aids
This type of non-prescription hearing device uses direct audio input connections from a TV, stereo, radio, microphone, auditory trainer, personal FM system, and other assistive devices in order to route sound from the source to the listener.
Telephone Amplifying Devices
These devices allow a standard telephone receiver to be used with hearing aids thanks to a T-Coil, which can be manually or automatically activated, allowing the hearing aid wearer to use the telephone at a comfortable volume without feedback and with minimal background noise.
Cell Phone Assistance
Digital hearing aids and some digital phones may create constant noise or distortion. However, most modern hearing aids are manufactured with cell phone connectivity options that allow you to pair your cell phone to your hearing aids using Bluetooth technology, providing not only a “hands-free” experience, but also greater binaural (both ears) hearing clarity.
Assistive Listening Systems for Public Settings
Many theaters, airports, churches, lecture halls, and various other public places provide assistive listening systems (ALSs), which are mandated and regulated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These facilities typically post a notification of their availability at the building entrance using the following symbol.
Three types of assistive listening systems in use include:
Hearing Loops, which connect to public address systems via a loop driver, providing wireless sound transmission directed into the telecoil of hearing aids, cochlear implants, or telecoil receivers worn on the body
Radio Frequency (FM or DM ALS) systems, which transmit wireless, low-power FM frequency radio transmission from a sound system to FM receivers (headphones, neckloop or T-coil equipped hearing aids).
Infrared Systems (IR), which provide speech or sound transmission from a public address system using invisible infrared light waves to an IR receiver
How Do I Know if I Need an ALD?
The ideal candidate for an ALD may experience the following difficulties:
Straining to hear conversations
Frustration or fatigue after engaging in conversation
Inability to hear the TV and radio at what is a comfortable volume to those around them
Feeling that loved ones and friends are mumbling
Needing to ask others to repeat themselves
Responding to others at a louder volume or shouting during normal conversation
Hearing better with one ear than the other one
Hearing words as jumbled together during conversation
Many of the above issues are also early warning signs of hearing loss. Before choosing an ALD system, consider a comprehensive hearing assessment from one of Nelson Audiology’s audiologists, who are able to provide a wide range of better hearing solutions.
